Varicose Veins - VascularWeb

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Varicose Veins
What is a varicose vein
Swollen, blue, bulging, twisted, superficial (those closest
to the skin) veins of the leg are known as varicose veins.
What causes varicose veins
High pressure inside the superficial veins of the leg cause
varicose veins. Genetics are thought to play a large role in
contributing to varicose veins.
What are the effects of varicose veins
Left untreated, varicose veins may become worse. Persons
with varicose veins often experience leg aches and fatigue.
Skin changes may include rashes, redness, and sores.
Are diagnostic tests available for
varicose veins
Yes. After obtaining a medical history and completing
a physical exam, physicians examine prominent veins.
Then, physicians may apply a tourniquet or direct hand
pressure to observe how the veins fill with blood.
To identify the causes of varicose veins, physicians may
order a duplex ultrasound test. The painless test uses
high-frequency waves to measure the speed of blood
flow. The test helps visualize the vein structure and the
blood flow in the veins. The test can take approximately
10-20 minutes per leg.
How common are varicose veins
As many as 40 million Americans have varicose veins.
What factors influence development of varicose veins
Age is a factor. People between the ages of 30 and 70 often have
varicose veins.
During pregnancy, 50 to 55 percent of American women
experience varicose veins. In most cases, the veins return to
normal within a year after childbirth. Women who have multiple
pregnancies may develop permanent varicose veins.
The varicose vein risk factors for women and men include:
• a family history of varicose veins,
• being overweight,
• standing or sitting for long periods of time,
• having a deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
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Protect Your Vascular Health
What are the initial treatment options for
varicose veins
Most doctors will suggest lifestyle changes for patients with varicose
veins. This includes:
• maintaining the proper weight,
• elevating legs when resting,
• not sitting or standing for long periods of time,
• wearing compression (elastic support) stockings.
This is the mainstay of treatment.
Vascular surgeons are the only physicians
treating vascular disease today who can
perform all treatment options available
including: medical management; minimally
invasive endovascular procedures including
balloon angioplasty, and stent ablation of
the veins procedures; and open surgical
repair including bypass and stripping.
Additional treatments for varicose veins
Sclerotherapy is the sealing of the veins via an injection of a
medication. This procedure is done mainly for smaller spider
veins. It is performed in a doctor’s office. The physician injects
a chemical into the varicose veins to prevent the veins from
filling with blood.
Vein Stripping is performed for more involved varicose veins.
The physician may make two small incisions: one in the groin
area and another below the knee. Next, the physician removes
the diseased veins.
In a similar procedure known as Transilluminated Powered
Phlebectomy or TIPP, the physician shines an intense light on
the leg to see the veins. Once the physician locates the varicose
vein, he or she passes a suction device through a tiny incision
and suctions out the vein. The procedure is relatively painless.
Ablation and laser treatment are performed on patients with
severe varicose veins. The ablation procedure inserts a catheter,
a thin, flexible tube into the leg vein. The tip of the catheter
has tiny electrodes that heat and seal off the walls of the vein.
Similarly, laser treatments use a tiny fiber placed in the vein
through a catheter. The fiber sends out laser energy that closes
the diseased portion of the vein.
Only when you see a vascular surgeon
who offers all treatment modalities will
you be assured of receiving the care that
is most appropriate to your condition.
These two modes of treatment frequently replace stripping of
the saphenous vein as described above. These procedures can
be performed alone or in conjunction with removal of individual
clusters of varicose veins known as small incision avulsion or
ambulatory phlebectomy.
Please call with any questions:
For more information visit VascularWeb.org
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